Construction times

I guess the best way to measure it is from the creation of the serial number/job card to first test flight – With something as complex as an aircraft the manufacturer would have to create it on paper first (ie which engine, what armament, theatre specialities, latest mods etc). When this specification is passed on to the production people the aircraft is born, and gains identity. It’s the same with cars – the chassis number forces the creation of the body and creates the orders for the parts to match the request.

That’s my theory – now has anyone got the data that says Serial 123456 was started on 33rd of octember 1943 and was test flown on whenever?

JC

There was a wartime propaganda article or film (film from memory) about building a Wellington in 24 hours. Apparently it appeared to be done but there was a degree of cheating involved.
No idea where or when I read about it (not recently) so can’t help with source or links.

There may not be a proper answer to that question, since thousands of components and sub-assemblies were made in hundreds of different factories, the photos show final assembly, which is perhaps what you would like to know about. In other words, starting with a kit of parts, how long did it take to put one complete aircraft together? Is that what you mean? Perhaps some retired production manager could tell us!

The information provided so far is interesting, but it doesn’t answer my original question.

How long did it take to build each aircraft from go to whoa? In other words, did each Spitfire take four days, four weeks, what? Likewise the other aircraft mentioned.

Regards

Wombat

Hi

Yes but Oscar yours must have taken longer because it lasted longer – ?

Kindest regards
John P

Let’s see now; GM – Eastern Aircraft, built 400 Avengers in the month mine was made…more than 12 per day or one every 30 minutes…

Assembly Lines

I am not sure about build times but I know some pretty impressive numbers were turned out by some plants through different stages of the war.

Here are some shots of assembly lines for some different aircraft just for interests sake.. (The black and white is a Lanc factory, as they were specifically mentioned… but do not have a colour shot of that facility 😡 )

At 5 per day that sounds about right! The fighter production rate was probably 3 times that or more! Especially in Russia and the USA.

Lancasters…

Saw a program about Lancasters last night and they said 150 per month were rolling off the production lines.